FORMER West Indies cricket captain Carl Hooper expects the resilient Barbadian public to overcome recent trying times and enjoy the second edition of the CLOBI Cup, which gets under way at Kensington Oval on Friday.
“Barbados is going through a hard time right now, having lost its Prime Minister, obviously it’s a time of mourning,” the veteran of 102 Tests said on Monday.
“There has just been a serious storm system over the last couple of days, so Barbadians will be busy tidying up, cleaning up and getting their lives back on track.
“But, hopefully, people will still come out to support the CLOBI Cup because it’s a good thing and should be competitive and played in the right spirit and manner,” he added.
The West Indies will play defending champions England in the tournament opener at 4 p.m. on Friday, while Sri Lanka will face first-timers India in the second match of the double-header at 8 p.m.
Hooper arrived here on Thursday, just a day before Tropical Storm Tomas swept across the island. He admitted the experience of being caught in a storm was a frightening one.
“It’s the first time I’ve experienced anything like that,” he said. “It was barely a Category 1 at the time so I can’t really imagine when it gets to a Category 3 and 4.”
“I’ve been through a lot of rain in Guyana but the scary thing about this was the wind.
“You hear all these trees and branches falling everywhere; it was quite frightening.”
Hooper, who immigrated to Adelaide, Australia, at the end of his international career in 2003, said he is in better shape than in 2009 since he is now the head coach of the South Australia state second XI team, as well as Woodville District club.
In last year’s CLOBI Cup, a delighted crowd of 5 000 watched the affable Guyanese score 42 and bowl a dramatic final over as the West Indies edged by Sri Lanka in the tournament opener.
But the hosts lost their other two matches and missed out on the final.
Hooper is confident of a better display this time around.
“Last year wasn’t the greatest of showings. But we have picked a younger side, so we expect to do better and go much further,’ he said.
The silky right-hander said that the important thing about the tournament was that the cricket was of high quality and high intensity. (PR/BA)
